“England are special, we love them”

He's some man for one man.

One undeniable fact about Eamon Dunphy is that, love him or loathe him, you're always entertained by him. If you take the 72-year-old too seriously you're probably only going to get annoyed by him so you'd probably be better off just sitting back and enjoying the show. There's always a show when Eamon Dunphy's involved. In this World Cup, RTÉ's maverick analyst has come under more scrutiny than ever. In an age of intense paralysis by analysis on social media, any single slip up or wrong fact and the masses will circle with a smile on their face and they'll take some pride in pointing out where someone, anyone else went wrong. That's been the story of Eamon Dunphy's last few weeks. In fairness, the former Republic of Ireland midfielder has been looser than ever in this World Cup. He's been spouting false truths with all the free-flowing conviction he had 30 years ago but if you can't excuse a man of 72 years the occasional blooper, then it might be you who needs to take a little look at yourself. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1015585111490859008 Because if you're talking about Eamon Dunphy getting his facts wrong, you have already missed the point about him. Dunphy's love of the grand statement goes along with his promise that the second volume of his autobiography would have been called Wrong About Everything. And while he may be more often wrong than right, one thing you're guaranteed with him is something provocative, something bloody interesting. Something to get us riled up, one way or another. It sure beats watching the boring, fence-sitting our English counterparts are forced to endure. Eamon Dunphy will always inspire a reaction. That's what he wants and that's his job now. England's progress has been the story of this World Cup so far around these parts and Eamon Dunphy has tracked it typically magnificently. On June 24 as England stuttered to an opening day win over Tunisia, Dunphy said this of Gareth Southgate's Three Lions.

"You're never too far from a train-wreck with England."

On July 3, in the aftermath of their penalty shootout victory over Colombia, Dunphy stated gleefully with that unique wistfulness and that classic look of mischief on his face that football was indeed, on the way home.

"Football is coming home, baby.

On July 7, just before our neighbours would take on Sweeden in the World Cup Quarter final, Dunphy took on the mantle of speaking for the whole of Ireland and he claimed that we love our neighbours across the pond. He hopes they win and he knows we do too.

"I think England are going to win. I hope they do. "England are special, we love them," he said to laughs from Brady and Andrews alongside him.

And the lads reacted well. Never change, Eamon.